Taxi drivers and operators in Middlesbrough will be reimbursed after four years of "overcharging"

NEARLY £700,000 looks set to be paid back by Middlesbrough Council to Teesside taxi owners and operators after several years of overcharging for licences.

The potential refunds on the cost of the licences follows a decision by the Local Government Ombudsman and covers the four years from 2012/13 to 2015/16.

The plan, which will be considered at a council meeting on Wednesday, March 30, follows a review of the administration of taxi licensing in the town.

The council apologised to Teesside's largest taxi company, Boro Taxis, after it was reprimanded by the ombudsman. Christine Bell, the taxi firm's company secretary had made a complaint about the way fees were calculated.

Just over half of the reimbursement will be covered by council reserves, while the rest will be paid out from a surplus within the existing taxi licensing budget.

At the root of the over-charging was the Council’s ‘cross-subsidy’ approach to drivers’ fees, in which increases in fees to vehicle proprietors and private hire operators were used to off-set the fees payable by drivers.

But earlier this year, after the ombudsman decision, the council changed its fee structure and work was undertaken to establish how much money needed to be paid back to operators.

Councillor Julia Rostron, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Adult Health and Social Care, said: “Our approach to taxi licensing for many years has been similar those of authorities up and down the country.

“Our aim has always been to be fair and even-handed, while offering an effective and responsive service.

“We have always endeavoured to support drivers as many are of limited means, but now accept that this approach could not be legally justified.

“However we will not seek to claw back any of the driver under-payments, particularly as the recent review has resulted in a significant increase in their licence fees.”

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 LONDONDERRY

 Eamonn McCann says the authorities should leave cross-border taxi-drivers alone and concentrate on illegal dumpers he believes are trucking waste from Londonderry to Donegal under their noses.

He made the comment after the Sentinel reported how taxi-drivers, wedding car and limousine operators and bus firms in Londonderry are being asked to choose between making a living and breaking the law thanks to the border.

Environment Minister Mark H. Durkan recently acknowledged honest hard-working taxi-drivers are already being forced into de facto banditry just because they are based in a border town.

“I believe, a blind eye has been turned by the authorities on both sides of the border to cross-border taxi journeys,” he said.

Mr McCann responded: “And so they should be turning a blind eye. They should have better things to do than harassing Derry taxi drivers - harassing illegal dumpers trucking waste from Derry over the border and dumping it in Donegal, for example.

“The cross-border dumping has been carried out in broad daylight. The authorities on both sides of the border know all about it. Mark H’s Department is one of these authorities. But we can get no answer from any of them as to how or why this prolonged illegality has been allowed to happen.

“Taxi drivers are threatened with legal repercussions - while the illegal dumpers continue on their merry way.

“This is the cross-border dimension of the scandal of the Maydown/Campsie/Strathfoyle area having become the site of the biggest illegal dump in Europe - with serious implications for the health of local residents.

“People Before Profit will be maintaining a focus on this scandal through the election campaign. If the voters decide to put me into the Assembly, I’ll get the answers which the people should have had long ago.”

http://goo.gl/8AIBe8 
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 LEEDS

Amber Cars, the Leeds-based private hire and taxi company, has acquired A1 Taxis in a five-figure deal.

Following the acquisition, Amber Cars now has a total pool of 860 drivers.

The purchase has been backed by Amber Cars’ parent company, Veezu, and is anticipated to create up to 1,500 extra bookings for the business every week in locations such as Holbeck and Beeston, which are areas of Leeds that Amber hasn’t previously had a strong presence in.  

Now, customers of A1 Taxis will benefit from Veezu’s investment into the infrastructure of Amber Cars, which sees the business offer electronic booking methods in the form of a ‘three tap app’, interactive voice response system and through the internet.

Amber Cars also offers customers the option of booking through traditional methods such as over the phone, walk-ins or on account. 

Emma Irvine, general manager of Amber Cars, said: “By acquiring A1 Taxis, we have added another 15 experienced drivers to our fleet, who bring with them a wealth of knowledge of areas that Amber Cars hasn’t traditionally worked in day-to-day.

“This means that our new drivers have the opportunity to work across the city, which in turn presents a higher earning potential for them, and will positively impact Amber Cars’ customers as more drivers on the roads enables us to service bookings at quicker speeds.”   

Veezu owns five taxi firms across the UK and has a combined fleet of almost 2,500 cars.

Paul Ragan, chief executive officer of Veezu, added: “A1 Taxis has been operating in Leeds for decades, with a loyal client base and experienced drivers operating in the south of the city centre. So by bringing A1 Taxis into the Veezu group, we have further strengthened our business in Leeds by increasing our driver pool and the areas in which we operate.

“Customers of A1 Taxis will now be able to benefit from Veezu’s range of electronic booking methods, which are used by more than 50% of our Leeds customer base - the most popular being our mobile app. In less than a year since launching our app, it is now used by 44% of our customers and we anticipate this figure to increase on the back of us inheriting new customers through A1 Taxis.

“There has been such change in the taxi and private hire sector in the last 12 months, which is forcing firms across the UK to review its operations, from booking methods to pricing structures, in order to compete with new international providers entering the market.

“Through consolidation, our vision is to create regional hubs of taxi firms, and the acquisition of A1 Taxis is another key milestone for Veezu and Amber in our Leeds hub.”

https://goo.gl/DGPqbo
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CAMBRIDGESHIRE

  A woman with multiple sclerosis (MS) has revealed how she had her wheelchair confiscated by a taxi driver in a row over the fare.

Jayne Oates, 41, was travelling home from an awards dinner with her partner Lee Hill, 47, when they got into a dispute with the cabbie.

The couple requested that the driver help them to get Jayne's wheelchair out of the car boot, which they say he refused to do.

However, the driver claims the pair were acting like they were planning not to pay their fare, with Lee 'flashing £55' but not handing it over.

The 'uncomfortable' incident meant Jayne, who was diagnosed with MS in 2011, had to be carried to her front door in Hauxton, Cambridgeshire, by her partner.

She was then forced to use her cumbersome outdoor wheelchair around the house until Lee retrieved her indoor one the following day.

It is unclear whether the couple eventually paid the driver, who works for New Tax Taxis in Newmarket.

Now, the matter is now being investigated by the Forest Heath District Council, which is responsible for taxi licensing.

Today, Jayne said of the incident: "It was a bit rubbish because we had a really nice night out.

"It was a real treat for myself and my partner to go out together because it's tricky for me to go out and attend events.

"I think the driver thought because Lee had questioned the rate on the meter that he didn't have enough money, or wouldn't pay, but that was never Lee's intention."

She added: "It was rubbish because it makes you realise you might not be able to do things and you really don't need to be reminded of that.

"It makes you reluctant to go on taxi journeys again because you don't want the same thing to happen.

"An apology would be nice but I'm not expecting anything - I just hope people will be more considerate."

The driver, who asked not to be named, denied that he had refused to help unpack the chair and said he had offered to do so upon receipt of his fare.

He said: "He [Lee] insisted he needs his wheelchair first and then he would pay.

"I said since you are home now you pay in the car with me and I'll come out and take the wheelchair out.

"He was flashing £55 [but] wasn't willing to pay. We get customers who try not to pay every week - I know when someone is trying to do something like that.

"I said I'm going to hold your goods until you pay [and] he said 'fine'. He wasn't very concerned about this wheelchair."

New Tax Taxis said it was aware of the incident.

A spokesman for Forest Heath District Council, added: "We are aware of the incident and we are investigating it."

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